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The driver of a truck that fell 40 feet off Crosstown Boulevard onto Second Avenue told authorities his brakes weren't working Tuesday night before the crash, Pittsburgh police said today.

Sgt. Daniel Connolly of the police bureau's collision investigations unit said three people in the vehicle suffered minor injuries, and a fourth was seriously injured, but not critically.

Police would not release their names, but Cmdr. Scott Schubert has said their ages range from 19 to 22.

The driver told police that he was going down Crosstown Boulevard shortly before 7:30 p.m. when he hit his brakes and they didn't work.

"He decided to slow himself down by going up the Jersey barrier," instead of hitting vehicles in traffic, the sergeant said.

The driver then somehow got between the barrier and a fence and the truck fell onto Second Avenue. The three passengers climbed out on their own, and the driver was cut out with rescue equipment because of damage to the truck's roof.

Police will inspect the truck Friday to verify the driver's account, the sergeant said.